FAKE or Fabulousthist
kdjls
Cuzco
Paintings and Rosariosthisthist
That ROSARY (ROSARIO) NECKLACE--might be an IMPOSTER--The new ones combine red beads from China, replica crosses and/or brass beads and coins. Because the coins are sometimes quite old, they may be mistaken for old necklaces but they are contemporary and made for the tourist trade.I saw a replica with shiny new chinese glass beads and replica cast bronze beads and crosses being sold as an 18th century coral(!) Peruvian rosary on Ebay with a reserve of $200. It was brand new and could have been bought on any street corner in Quito, Ecuador for about $12.00. Yes, actual old Rosario necklaces made with old Venetian trade beads and original crosses and brass beads do exist--but the beads and other components are very different. REALLY old ones are rare.
all the upper row beads are 20th century
(ABOVE)
only the lower strand is real coral
(LEFT)
These are called white hearts-white inside, semi-translucent and look obviously handmade and irregular. They ARE old.
The beads at right are good old Venetian beads. To learn about beads, look at lots and lots of them.
CUZCO PAINTINGS--REPLICAS, that is, are sold by the hundreds in Peru. The vast majority of the oil on canvas paintings purported to be actual Cuzco paintings or Spanish colonial paintings are new replicas from Peru. I bought this one in the handcraft market in Lima for about $15.00.
MOST COMMON THEMES: La Virgen de la Leche--the Virgin Mary breast feeding, various archangels including Michael slaying a dragon, Uriel who has a vintage shotgun and plumed hat (seen here) and the Virgin of Guadalupe.
TIP: in the case of Peru, "colonial" means anything pre-1820 when Peru declared its independence from Spain. After 1820 is considered the Republican period.